Cigar-moistener.



PATENTED MAR. 26

L. P. BRADLEY. CIGAR MOISTENER.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 10. 1907.

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TINTTE il STATES TENT FTCE.

CIGAR-MOISTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 26, 1907.

Application filed January 10,1907. Serial No. 351,656.

To It 1071 0777 it may concern:

Be it known that I, LoUIs F. BRADLEY, a citizen of the United States,residing at I/Vashington, in v the District of Columbia, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Cigar-\Ioisteners, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact specification.

This invention relates to humidifiers or airmoisteners for show-cases inwhich are displayed cigars, tobacco, or other commodities apt to becometoo dry in a warm salesroom.

The object of the invention is to produce as an article of manufactureand sale an inexpensive, attractive, and efficient device for thepurpose named that can be readily and quickly applied to the innersurface of the glass top of a show-case without obstructing the view toany appreciable extent.

A further object of the invention is to so construct the device as toform an attractive advertising medium.

IVith these and other objects in view the invention consists in thenovel features to be hereinafter described in detail and set forth inthe claims at the close of this specification. In the accompanyingdrawings, wherein similar numerals of reference are used to indicatecorresponding parts in each of the several views, Figure 1 is a top planview showing a portion of the top plate of a show-case with my improvedmoistener applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a view showing the moistener inside elevation and the top plate of a showcase in section. Fig. 3 is avertical section taken on the broken line III III of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4is a fragmentary side elevation disclosing a modified means of attachingthe shell to the head or cover.

My improved moistener comprises a head or cover 2 for attachment to theglass top 1 of a show-case and a perforated shell 5, detachably securedto the head 2 and adapted to contain some material which is an absorbentof moisture, the design being that more or less rapid evaporation of theliquid or moisture will take place, and the articles in the case, havinghygroscopic properties, will extract needed moisture from the air in thecase to maintain a desired condition.

I prefer to construct the head or cover 2 of transparent glass, asindicated in Fig. 3, and the outer surface thereof is provided with anopen-ended recess 3 to receive an advertisingcard 4, containing suchadvertising matter as may be desired. The top surface of the headsurrounding the recess is molded flat to lie snugly against the glasstop 1 of the case and may contain intaglio lettering, such as the patentdate and number.

The inner end of the head or cover 2 is of reduced diameterto receivethe shell 5, the exterior of the latter being flush with the rim of thehead, and, as shown, the reduced plug 2 is threaded to engage theinteriorlythreaded mouth of the shell 5, thereby admitting of readydetachment of the parts. The engaging threads of the plug and shell arepreferably of rapid pitch to provide for quick engagement anddisengagement of the parts, and I contemplate in some instances makingthe screws of interrupted threads, so that the parts may be engaged anddisengaged by, say, a quarter-turn. As a continuous screw-thread jointbetween these parts is the equivalent of an interrupted thread and alsothe equivalent in this connection of a bayonet-joint, I intend my claimsto cover such equivalents.

The shell is preferably for the sake of lightness, non-liability totarnish, and non corrodibility made of aluminium and is provided with amultiplicity of small apertures 6 to admit circulation of air and theevapora tion of the liquid or moisture held by the absorbent material 7.

In practice sponge, wool, or other absorbent material 7 may be usedWithin the shell, care being taken to avoid packing the material soclosely as to prevent free circulation of air therethrough andconsequent evaporation. I prefer in this connection to use thewell-known absorbent cotton, owing to its absorptive and asepticproperties, and the cost is so slight that the charge or mass may berenewed frequently as the air rising from the lower part of the casebecomes laden with the tobacco or other odors given off by the articlescontained therein.

In use the head or cover 2 will be attached by a film of transparentcement to the under side of the glass top 1 of a show-case, with theopen end of the recess 3 in position for ready insertion or removal of acard. The shell 5 is then to be filled with a looselyformed charge ormass of cotton 7, moistened with water alone or water containing aslight proportion of wine, rum, or other liquid usually employed in suchrelations. The shell 5 being now secured to the head 2, the process ofairmoistening Will take place, and the articles in the show-case Willtake up the moisture from the air according to need.

I do not, of course, limit myself to a head 2 of transparent glass, astranslucent or opaque glass or other material might be used; but Iprefer the construction described, as it makes an attractive attachmentin appearance and does not obstruct the view as other materials Woulddo. Also it Will be understood that the shell 5 may be made of silver,glass, or other material, my preference, however, being for aluminium,as described, or glass, they being non-corrosive and readily cleansed.

Having thus fully described my invention, What I claim is 1. Ahumidifier for cases consisting of a head having a top for attachment tothe case and a reduced plughaving engaging projectio'ns, and aperforated shell adapted to fit said plug and having recesses to engagethe projections of the plug.

2. A humidifier for cases consisting of a top for attachment to the caseand a reduced plug, and a perforated shell fitting said plug, the plugand shell having interlocking recesses and projections.

3. A humidifier for cases consisting of a head having a recessed top forattachment to the case and a reduced plug, and a perforated shellfitting said plug; the shell and plug being respectively screw-threaded.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two attesting Witnesses.

LOUIS F. BRADLEY.

Vitnesses:

MATTHEW TRIMBLE, JANE T. BLAND.

